BGNN: Stafford Mike Olsen report

• BGNNWriter@aol.com (Penny Degre)
• MNI - Motorsport News International
• Mon Jul 29 23:19:17 EDT 1996

*    Stafford Springs, CT - (July 27, 1996) - Mike Olsen and the "Little
Trees" Race team showed up at Stafford Motor Speedway optimistic about the
CarQuest 150. However, the challenging half-mile oval would show no mercy on
the young No. Haverhill, NH driver when an accident collected the No. 61
Pontiac taking him out of the race after completing only 46 laps.
 The "Little Trees" Race team started their day off by turning a lap of
84.610 mph, an impressive eleventh fastest of the 50 cars attempting to make
the 30-car field.
 The cars rolled out onto the track to take the green flag and Olsen was
ready. Immediately the "Little Trees" Pontiac moved into the seventh position
after getting the jump on the No. 34 of Glenn Sullivan, the No. 09 of Steve
Park, and the No. 44 of Andy Santerre. An incident on lap two brought out the
yellow and the field lined up for the restart with Olsen ready to gain more
ground.
 The No. 22 of Jeff Barry and the No. 51 of Stefanik got by the "Little
Trees" Pontiac dropping Olsen back into the eighth position, but Olsen held
onto his position constantly applying pressure to Stefanik as they circled
the uniquely shaped track.
 It was on lap 44 that Barry got into Stefanik on the backstretch causing him
to spin. Olsen was just exiting turn two and began to slow when he saw the
incident. The No. 13 of Ted Christopher bumped him in the back pushing him
forward into Stefanik resulting in heavy front end suspension damage.
 "I'm not sure what got it started," said Olsen. "I got sideways and when I
gathered it up, the 51 was sitting there and I hit him hard. I broke the
radiator, had suspension damage, and the frame is damaged. Its too bad
because the "Little Trees" Pontiac was running real good."


* The team will now prepare for the Busch North Series' first road course
event of the season at Watkins Glen International Speedway slated for August
10. The event will be a supporting event for the Winston Cup Series.